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Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Finished Knit: Azami

Oh, boy. I started this sometime in May. Several times, I started it. I finished it this morning, and my ten-year-old agreeably came outside to take photos for me. He doesn't even ask why or anything.

I really like this pattern (Azami by Carol Feller). I really hate this yarn (Southwick by Valley Yarns, which is Webs' house brand). This is disappointing, because I almost never use the exact yarn called for in a pattern, but I wanted to do this sweater right, so I decided to order the Southwick. It seems like a mismatch between yarn and pattern to me. Plenty of people love this yarn, and I am admittedly biased towards wool and wool blends, although I've knit with cotton and linen before and enjoyed some of those yarns very much. But I found this to be slippery, splitty, and extremely unforgiving. Picked-up stitches look like, well, crap. I also fear the yarn won't wear well, since the yarn I unraveled (sigh, I had to do this quite a bit) looked shabby just from one knit and redo. It is so frustrating to spend lots of time on a project and end up disappointed in the materials, especially when using the suggested materials. I wish I'd subbed.

But, you know, moving on. Here's a shot of the back, so you can see the hood.

(Didn't my son do a great job? He asked me how to zoom the camera and this is his original shot, no cropping on my part.) I made the hood a little shorter than called for, because I think this yarn is going to grow. Yes, I swatched, but I didn't swatch and soak and hang and beat the heck out of it to see if it would turn into some other fabric entirely. I think it might, though.

As for details, this is the 32.5" size with no waist shaping. I originally began the next size up, but when I pulled it out after one of my numerous errors (I forgot to switch to stockinette after completing the first lace repeat), it looked enormous around. I don't have as much waist as I used to, and I thought the fabric was clingy enough without adding in shaping. It's all a moot point because this is probably going to pill within four wearings. So it's a good thing my son took such nice photos...

It is beautiful! I hope that it stays that way. Tell your son that we all think he did a great job with the pictures. I do wish I could knit sometimes. But I seldom even finish crocheted dish clothes, so it would probably be a moot point. Enjoy your week!

Thanks everyone! I hope it lasts too. Live & learn. :) Yes, I would make it again in something I like better, definitely. It's a great pattern. I particularly like the top-down set-in sleeves...a very nice touch. And I do love me a hood!

Yes your son has taken really beautiful shots. Good for him. What a pity you're so disappointed because it really does look so beautiful in the shots. I love the yellow, I love the v-detail at the front and I really really love the hood. What a bugger that you think it it won't last. I feel awfully disappointed for you too.

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Reminder: All text and photos copyright Amy Hood. You may use a photo in order to link back to a specific project, but if you'd like to use more than one photo or any of the text on this site, please send me an email at SalamanderDreams21 at gmail dot com. Thank you!